The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Tuesday that an unexpected attack by ISIS cells in the rural area of Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria resulted in the deaths of 9 members of the Syrian regime forces and the National Defence Forces. Additionally, more than 20 others were injured in the assault.
According to the London-based Observatory, ISIS militants, originating from deep within the Syrian desert, launched a surprise attack on positions and gatherings of regime forces and the National Defence Forces in the desert of Al-Tabni. This led to the death of approximately nine members of the regime forces and the National Defence Forces and left over 20 others wounded.
The Observatory noted that the clashes continued from last evening until dawn today. After the attack, ISIS elements withdrew from the positions they had controlled in the desert near the towns of Al-Tabni and Maadan in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor. During their retreat, they seized a vehicle mounted with a 57mm cannon along with its ammunition and destroyed three military 4×4 vehicles.
Recent ISIS attacks in Syria have highlighted the group’s resurgence and growing strength in the region. According to Al Jazeera, ISIS has been demonstrating an increasing capacity for significant attacks, such as the recent prison break attempt in Hasakeh province. This event was seen as a very significant development, indicating the group’s intentions to expand its operations. The attack was notable for its scale, involving 200 ISIS fighters and indicating possible infiltration or bribery, given the difficulty of staging such an operation without insider assistance.
Experts from the Middle East Institute and the International Crisis Group have noted that while ISIS’s territorial control has collapsed, the group has maintained weapons, supply caches, training camps, and safe houses, particularly in central Syria. This has allowed them to conduct regular harassment of regime and affiliated units. Additionally, ISIS has been exploiting strained relations between the SDF, Kurdish administration, and local residents in Arab areas like Deir Az Zor, leveraging local frustrations over living conditions and lack of services.
In terms of broader trends, the Eurasia Review notes that ISIS’s activities have been contained mostly to South Asia, but there is a potential threat of expansion. The group’s operational tempo has been increasing in areas like Southeast Asia, and affiliates in regions like Somalia, Yemen, Libya, and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula continue to be active. The complexities of the Syrian conflict, including internal borders and areas controlled by competing factions, have facilitated ISIS’s ability to operate more freely.
Moreover, the situation in Syria is conducive to the growth of groups like ISIS, given the volatile and chaotic conditions. The US government’s reluctance to provide further equipment and financial support for the SDF to secure areas between Hasakeh countryside, Deir Az Zor, and northern Raqqa has also impacted the security situation. ISIL has maintained a regular pattern of low-level violence across northeast Syria, including roadside bombings and targeted assassinations, suggesting a sustained presence and capability in the region.